Hybrid Shielding for Hypervelocity Impact of Orbital Debris on Unmanned Spacecraft

The passive shielding of space craft structures is critical due to the increase in demand for lightweight protection, which required counter damaging effects micro-meteoroid orbital debris (MMOD) on unmanned spacecraft, have steeply increased recent years. Research hypervelocity impact (HVI) led development shield configurations such as conventional Whipple shield, consists two plates separated by a stand-off distance allow fragmentation and dispersion from impact. Variations been proposed, where additional layers are included energy dissipation efficiency. In this work, authors develop, validate test numerical model an orthogonally loaded hybrid incorporating aluminium honeycomb core, orientated with hexagonal tubes perpendicular direction proposed travel, mitigate well-known channelling effect. threat A2024-T3 projectile, impacting structure at velocity 6.5 km/s. validated experimental observations spread half-angle efficiency topology assessed against two-plate shield. core cell density, its position relative point impact, thickness shell, material thoroughly analysed. A concept provides highly efficient alternative standard design, without significantly compromising weight structure. obtained results clearly show that exhibits kinetic impactor front plate, dissipated can reach 86.8%